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Your Lions Squad Based on this Season?
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<blockquote data-quote="FrankfurtRugbyWatcher4" data-source="post: 995081" data-attributes="member: 83480"><p>To sum it up, there is not too much in favour of Lawes playing at flanker. (But also something important againt Itoje at lock.) There are rather a couple of concerns against it (mostly his lack of abilities to steal possession at the breakdown, besides running lines or him being prone to cause penalties.) LIONSxv stressed the importance of the breakdown work. And the imperative to adjust to the "style" of the referee. A work-on for Lawes, something he might iron out. At the moment it counts against him, especially in that flanker role. With all due respect to TRF_Olyy's opinion.</p><p></p><p>So Itoje satisfies that crucial jackling/poaching requirement so much better when competing for a spot in the back row. However, there is a main deficiency for him to be a satisfying choice to start at lock:</p><p></p><p>The weight he is not able to add in the scrum. It matters a lot against South Africa. And it is not a real strength of James Ryan either. Something that needs to be compensated. Given Ryan's many other talents. Itoje next to him does not provide that. Such a choice would rather aggravate the issue.</p><p></p><p>How Itoje made a nuisance of himself against the All Blacks in 2017 in overall play merits cult status. But there is also the picture in my head of Dan Cole being taken apart in the scrum in the world cup final. Tough for any England supporter to remember. But I, from a Northern Hemisphere point of view, found it even harder to see Itoje in such situations popping up in the scrum, rather than helping Cole. His team lost the Word Cup final in the scrums. And Itoje was just throwing in the towel. Letting his mates down, sorry for being so outspoken (and his maturity when not being a good loser later on and refusing the wear the silver medal. Such a bright young man otherwise.)</p><p></p><p>The possibility is back for the scrum being a contest. One recent achievement of the World Cup and the game at the sharp end. That has to be borne in mind against an opponent like South Africa. Lock does therefore not look like the best use of Itoje. As I stressed earlier, the scrummaging problems for the Lions in 2017 when he was paired with Alun Wyn Jones are further evidence. Very unexpected at the time.</p><p></p><p>Itoje is one of the trump card of this Lions team, but not at lock.</p><p></p><p>Other options to complement James Ryan in the engine room other than Lawes? There is also some depth needed for such a tour. (This question by the way answers what TRF_Olyy picked up.)</p><p></p><p>Well, there are clearly not as many riches in this department as with wing, open side flanker, or fullback. All alternatives have got some merits but lack the excellence of the choices elsewhere. When I think of Jake Ball, Tom Kruis, Joe Launchbury, Adam Beard, or Charlie Ewels (in that order.) Nick Isekwe measuring 6 ft 7 establishing himself as an international would improve the situation a lot. Outside shot 6 ft 8 Jean Kleyn of Munster and Ireland as well.</p><p></p><p>Iain Henderson is the best footballer of them, but not my choice in the starting XV. For the sake of maximising bulk. That is the problem with Cory Hill or Jonnie Gray. And neither Gray nor Henderson are an answer when searching for a big number 6 (that breakdown again.)</p><p></p><p>Conclusion: Itoje in the back row, Ryan in the shadow starting XV with either Lawes (if he still makes it agewise) or Isekwe (if he already makes it experiencewise) backed up by Henderson and Ball would make the best of that situation.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="FrankfurtRugbyWatcher4, post: 995081, member: 83480"] To sum it up, there is not too much in favour of Lawes playing at flanker. (But also something important againt Itoje at lock.) There are rather a couple of concerns against it (mostly his lack of abilities to steal possession at the breakdown, besides running lines or him being prone to cause penalties.) LIONSxv stressed the importance of the breakdown work. And the imperative to adjust to the “style” of the referee. A work-on for Lawes, something he might iron out. At the moment it counts against him, especially in that flanker role. With all due respect to TRF_Olyy's opinion. So Itoje satisfies that crucial jackling/poaching requirement so much better when competing for a spot in the back row. However, there is a main deficiency for him to be a satisfying choice to start at lock: The weight he is not able to add in the scrum. It matters a lot against South Africa. And it is not a real strength of James Ryan either. Something that needs to be compensated. Given Ryan's many other talents. Itoje next to him does not provide that. Such a choice would rather aggravate the issue. How Itoje made a nuisance of himself against the All Blacks in 2017 in overall play merits cult status. But there is also the picture in my head of Dan Cole being taken apart in the scrum in the world cup final. Tough for any England supporter to remember. But I, from a Northern Hemisphere point of view, found it even harder to see Itoje in such situations popping up in the scrum, rather than helping Cole. His team lost the Word Cup final in the scrums. And Itoje was just throwing in the towel. Letting his mates down, sorry for being so outspoken (and his maturity when not being a good loser later on and refusing the wear the silver medal. Such a bright young man otherwise.) The possibility is back for the scrum being a contest. One recent achievement of the World Cup and the game at the sharp end. That has to be borne in mind against an opponent like South Africa. Lock does therefore not look like the best use of Itoje. As I stressed earlier, the scrummaging problems for the Lions in 2017 when he was paired with Alun Wyn Jones are further evidence. Very unexpected at the time. Itoje is one of the trump card of this Lions team, but not at lock. Other options to complement James Ryan in the engine room other than Lawes? There is also some depth needed for such a tour. (This question by the way answers what TRF_Olyy picked up.) Well, there are clearly not as many riches in this department as with wing, open side flanker, or fullback. All alternatives have got some merits but lack the excellence of the choices elsewhere. When I think of Jake Ball, Tom Kruis, Joe Launchbury, Adam Beard, or Charlie Ewels (in that order.) Nick Isekwe measuring 6 ft 7 establishing himself as an international would improve the situation a lot. Outside shot 6 ft 8 Jean Kleyn of Munster and Ireland as well. Iain Henderson is the best footballer of them, but not my choice in the starting XV. For the sake of maximising bulk. That is the problem with Cory Hill or Jonnie Gray. And neither Gray nor Henderson are an answer when searching for a big number 6 (that breakdown again.) Conclusion: Itoje in the back row, Ryan in the shadow starting XV with either Lawes (if he still makes it agewise) or Isekwe (if he already makes it experiencewise) backed up by Henderson and Ball would make the best of that situation. [/QUOTE]
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